Rescuing My Mother from the Abyss

My mom Kate Gill liked putting her brother's needs above all else.

She harbors this audacious dream of transforming me into a never-ending cash machine solely for the benefit of her beloved cousin, as if I exist merely to meet their financial whims.

But what she didn't know was that I never played by the rules.

1.

My cousin Samuel Cox got into a university in our city.

During the summer break, Uncle Hank and Aunt Marie brought him over to "stay temporarily."

To do what? To help him adjust to city life early, making it easier to settle down later.

Kate and I went to the train station to pick them up.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I booked a van from a moving service. A normal one.

Kate complained, "It's bad enough you won't let Hank's family stay with us, but why did you have to pick them up in this kind of vehicle?"

The driver overheard her grumbling.

"Ma'am, what's wrong with my car? It can climb hills, go through water, carry lots of people, and it's known as the one of the most durable cars. If you don't like it, you can call another one."

Kate fell silent.

But I knew she was upset I hadn't used our nicer car to pick them up.

If Hank and Marie were reasonable people, I'd welcome them.

Unfortunately, they were like leeches, clinging to Kate.

And Kate, she relished it as if it were some kind of blessing.

In one word, she was self-deprecating.

At the train station, Hank's family was already waiting.

When they saw Kate getting out of a van, their expressions changed in an instant. Among all the private cars, the van written with "moving service" on it stood out like a sore thumb.

Hank said, "Sis, we traveled all this way to see you, and you let us ride in this wreck?"

Marie chimed in, "Exactly, do you look down on us? Do you think the country folks are easy to fool?"

"We even brought local specialties for you, and this is how you repay us?"

They took turns criticizing Kate, leaving her red-faced and speechless.

Even Samuel complained, "Aunt Kate, didn't you say your family was well-off? Were you just lying to us?"

I stood quietly on the side, watching them belittle Kate.

I felt nothing but a sense of calm.

Given Kate's chronic tendency to bluff and exaggerate, the outcome that ensued was as inevitable as the rising of the sun each morning.

The driver impatiently poked his head out. "Hurry up and get in, or I'm leaving."

2.

Seeing Kate so submissive, I knew it was time to step in.

"Uncle Hank, Aunt Marie, Samuel, we can't park here for long. Let's get in the car."

Only then did they notice me.

Perhaps because Kate had been their punching bag, they didn't say much more and got in the car.

Inside the van, Marie eyed the necklace around my neck.

"Alina, your necklace is quite pretty."

I touched it and smiled.

"My dad gave it to me for my birthday."

"It's really nice. I think it suits me more," she said.

Hank, who had been resting his eyes, opened them and glanced at my necklace.

Without hesitation, he said, "Alina, if Marie likes it, just give it to her."

I looked at Kate.

Her eyes pleaded with me.

She was willing to sacrifice my interest for Hank's family.

But I was not one to be pushed around.

I said, "Auntie, do you want it?"

Thinking I was about to give it to her, she eagerly held out her hand.

"Alina, you're giving it to me? I'm a bit embarrassed."

Her words said one thing, but her actions showed otherwise.

Her hands reached for the clasp of my necklace.

I dodged.

Marie's face froze.

"Alina, don't you want to give it to me?"

Look at her nerve; I hadn't even said I'd give it to her, and she was already trying to seize it.

Kate was in a tough spot, looking between me and Hank.

She was biased towards Hank.

"Alina, take it off. You have plenty of necklaces."

Even Kate was on their side, and Marie beamed with joy.

"Just give this one to Aunt Marie. She'll come over to pick another one later."

I'd been disappointed in Kate since I was a child.

Everything was always about Hank's family.

Even when my dad Walter struggled with his startup, she still gave them money instead of helping Walter.

This time it was my necklace; next time, it would be our house, and she wouldn't hesitate to give it away.

I slapped Marie's hand away.

"Did I ever say I'd give it to you? How embarrassed! Yet you have the nerve to ask for it? I've shown you respect, and you're taking things from your niece? If you want it, buy it yourself!"

3.

My barrage of words made Marie cry instantly.

Facing my rapid-fire response, Marie burst into tears.

Hank glared at Kate, pointing at me.

"Is this the daughter you raised? Quibbling over a necklace!"

Hank comforted his mom, glaring at me angrily.

Not a single one of them had shame.

I had known they came here with no intention of leaving.

One night, I overheard Kate on the phone, discussing letting them stay at our house.

I knew that once they moved in, getting them out would be nearly impossible.

That was why I called for a moving van to take them to a rented apartment.

Want to live in our house? No way!

No way!

Kate, for once, stood firm in front of me. She said, "Alina, stop making a fuss. It's just a necklace."

Stop making a fuss?

I would give them a big one.

I played along with Kate's words, responding nonchalantly, "Mom, why not just transfer the house to Hank's family? It's just a house."

Hearing this, Hank and Marie's eyes lit up.

A house in the city was something they could never afford in a lifetime.

If Kate gave it to them, it would make it much easier for Samuel to find a wife.

Kate hesitated, frowning.

She whispered, "Then where would we live?"

"You can rent a place. After all, you're planning to leave everything to Samuel anyway. Might as well do it sooner."

I looked at Kate with a half-smile.

Under my gaze, she turned pale.

"Alina, I didn't mean it like that..."

Samuel's attitude warmed up.

"Aunt Kate, I knew you cared about me. When you and Uncle Walter pass away, I'll take care of your belongs."

Kate was stunned.

I chuckled inwardly; even after hearing that, Kate would still cling to them.

She just couldn't help herself.

Marie stopped crying instantly, gripping Kate's hand with excitement.

Who wouldn't be thrilled at the prospect of a free house?

"Kate, thank you! We're always family. I heard Walter started a company. Once Samuel graduates, let him take over, and you can enjoy a peaceful life."

Kate shook her head, looking troubled.

"The company belongs to Walter, he..."

Before she could finish, Hank interrupted.

"You know, you don't have a son. When it comes to the inheritance, if it doesn't end up with Samuel, it'll surely slip through our family's fingers and fall into the hands of outsiders. After all, Alina is going to get married sooner or later, and once she does, she'll change her surname to that of her husband's. Then she'll be part of another family."

"But..."

"No buts, it's the best for all of us."

I knew Kate was always weak, but I didn't expect her to be this weak.

4.

The three of them were already dreaming about the wonderful life they'd have after inheriting my dad's company.

They even forgot about the necklace.

Kate quietly moved closer to me, with a fleeting sense of guilt.

"Alina, I didn't tell them to give them the company. You're the only heir."

I played a game on my phone, not saying a word.

My silence made Kate anxious.

"Alina..."

"Would you dare do that?" I put down my phone.

It was my mom's turn to be silent.

"There's only one inheritance." I smiled, making Kate tremble.

"But there can be many moms. I wouldn't mind if Dad found me a new one."

Until we arrived at an old, run-down neighborhood, Kate didn't say another word.

After getting out, Hank's family was dumbfounded.

This was nothing like the upscale neighborhood they imagined.

Hank angrily questioned Kate if she was playing a trick on them.

Kate looked at me.

The ingrained belief that sons are more valuable than daughters made it impossible for her to argue.

She asked me, "Alina, can they stay with us?"

I sneered.

"I see you don't want to be the mistress of the Gill family anymore."

Kate's eyes reddened.

"Come on, Alina..."

Marie shouted, "Kate, what kind of ungrateful wretch did you raise? If I were you, I would have been strangled at birth."

I threw the keys on the ground.

"If you want to stay, pick them up. If not, go back to the countryside right now."

Hank, furious, came at me to hit me.

I offered him my left cheek.

"One slap and there will be no shelter for you tonight. Think about it."

Hank's raised hand stopped mid-air.

Thanks to the widespread internet, he knew better than to hit someone.

Kate kindly picked up the keys and handed them to Hank.

She could degrade herself, but I wouldn't.

She was dreaming if she thought I'd degrade myself too.

I turned and walked away.

Even from a distance, I could still hear Marie cursing me.